Pediatric Hearing Loss | Greer Bailey, AuD, on Charlotte Today

Audiologist Greer Baily, AuD, appeared on WCNC's Charlotte Today on October 18, 2024 to discuss pediatric hearing loss and cochlear implants. Learn more about how your child can benefit from CEENTA's hearing services and schedule your next audiology appointment with Greer Bailey, AuD, at our SouthPark office by calling 704-295-3300.

Transcript of the Interview

Eugene Robinson: In today's Health Spotlight, we're joined by Greer Bailey, an audiologist at CEENTA's SouthPark office. And hello, welcome to the show. We're talking about hearing loss in children. This is a really big thing, so how prevalent is hearing loss in children?
Greer Bailey, AuD: So pediatric hearing loss is actually much more prevalent than people realize. It is one of the most common conditions that's diagnosed in pediatric patients, and statistics show that by the age of 18, one in every five children has experienced some type or degree of hearing loss in their lifetime.
Eugene: So what are the symptoms and signs we should be looking for? And the reason why I say that is because my daughter used to talk for my son all the time when he was younger, and we thought he was suffering from hearing loss.
Dr. Bailey: Sure, so there's a lot of people that can be involved or individuals that should be monitoring for signs and symptoms of hearing loss. So sometimes it will be parents, caregivers, teachers, but things that you can look for in newborns: startled sounds, if they don't startle to loud sounds, if they're not localizing to where sounds are coming from.
Eugene: You mean when localize like looking to check out to see where the sound's coming from?
Dr. Bailey: Yep, if they're not babbling very much or if their babbles are not progressing into somewhat intelligible speech. And then in older children, if they're having difficulty following and understanding instructions, if they are having difficulty in school, if they're asking for repetition often, those are a lot of the most prevalent signs and symptoms.
Eugene: So let's talk about how does untreated hearing loss - how does that impact children?
Dr. Bailey: Yes, so intervention and management of hearing loss in pediatric patients is essential because hearing loss is a very encompassing kind of condition that can impact a lot of things about a child. From overall development, it'll cause difficulty with speech and language skills,if you can't hear something appropriately you're not going to be able to produce it appropriately. So children often exhibit speech and language delays. Sometimes, they'll have difficulty in school, social concerns, behavioral concerns, all of the above.
Eugene: So as a parent, how is it identified and how is it diagnosed?
Dr. Bailey: Yes, so we are very lucky in the state of North Carolina. We have a very robust newborn hearing screening program. So any baby that is born in the state of North Carolina, they actually undergo a newborn hearing screen. If they do not pass that screening or if there are risk factors in their medical history for hearing loss, they're then referred to a clinical audiologist for further diagnostic testing.
Eugene: Any other intervention methods or options for hearing loss?
Dr. Bailey: Yes, so there are various ways even when children get older for diagnostic procedures. And if we diagnose hearing loss, then there are intervention options such as hearing aids, cochlear implants, bone conduction solutions hearing-assisted technology. But it's not a one-size-fits-all, so every treatment option is going to be individually recommended based on the type and degree of hearing loss.
Eugene: So Greer, you're in the SouthPark office?
Dr. Bailey: I am.
Eugene: Okay where can people get more information and follow?
Dr. Bailey: Yep, they can visit us on our website, which is ceenta.com, or they can call and schedule an appointment with us at any any point in time.
Eugene: Any point in time, and if you have any questions you guys are there to answer?
Dr. Bailey: Yep, absolutely. Our main hub or our pediatric team is at the South Park location, but we do see pediatric patients at all locations.
Eugene: And at ceenta.com?
Dr. Bailey: Yes.
Eugene: CEENTA.com if your child is experienced any hearing loss. Make sure you get CEENTA a call indeed. Thank you very much.
Dr. Bailey: You're very welcome, thank you so much for having me.